General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1514 seeks to improve curbside voting accessibility for electors with disabilities or incapacities by amending section 9-261 of the general statutes. The bill allows electors who are present at a polling place but unable to access it due to an incapacity to request that a ballot be brought to them in a designated curbside voting area. Notably, the term "temporary" is removed from the definition of incapacity, broadening eligibility for curbside voting. Additionally, registrars of voters are required to designate specific areas for curbside voting at each polling place, and election officials are mandated to assist these voters. The bill also introduces regulations to maintain a distraction-free environment around the curbside voting area, prohibiting solicitation and loitering within a twenty-foot radius of any elector casting a ballot.

Moreover, the bill includes provisions for student observation at polling places, allowing up to four students in grades four to twelve to observe polling activities under supervision. It also permits electors to bring children aged fifteen or younger into polling places, provided they are supervised by their parent or legal guardian. The legislation establishes penalties for violations related to distance markers at polling places, classifying such offenses as a class C misdemeanor. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026, and the bill amends sections 9-261(b) and 9-236 of current law.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-236